"If helping the poor is a crime, and fighting for freedom is rebellion, then I plead guilty as charged." --Crispin "Ka Bel" Beltran

Monday, February 27, 2006

Militant youth vow to defy 1017

*Militant youth vow to defy 1017**Urge students to wear black on Monday*

The militant youth group Anakbayan and other organizations under Youth DARE (Youth Demanding Arroyo's Removal) today urged all peace-loving and pro-democracy students to wear black to school on Monday as a sign of defiance against PD 1017.

This morning, students from UP Diliman covered the entirety of the academic oval and the UP oblation with black cloth as a symbol of mourning for the death of democracy and birth of renewed tyranny.

"We know our history, we know that what is happening right now is no different from what transpired at the beginning of the dark Martial Law years. It is precisely for this reason that we vow to defy PD 1017 and do everything within our means to prevent our schools from being transformed into garrisons," said Eleanor de Guzman, Anakbayan national chairperson.

She said that since yesterday their headquarters has been bombarded with reports and complaints against the presence of SWAT and armed military teams scattered around UP Diliman and PUP in Sta. Mesa. They were allegedly on the lookout for youth and student leaders from the respective universities.

"The youth are not afraid but they are fast losing patience with this administration. Instead of quelling dissent, expect more protests from the youth. We refuse to be cowed by this act of desperation. Mrs. Arroyo has just given the youth more reason to hasten her ouster. She has just sealed her sorry fate by declaring war against the our academic and campus freedom," she said.

She also expressed strong condemnation against the warrantless arrest of Anakpawis Representative Crispin Beltran and the raid of the Daily Tribune printing press.

"Will youth and student leaders and campus publications be next? Not if we have our way," warned de Guzman. ###